After making a long trip Friday up the Central Coast in a 31-27 football victory at San Luis Obispo High, Chaminade gets to do it again this Friday in a Southern Section Western Division semifinal at Arroyo Grande – an opponent that’s a bit closer but still a 300-mile roundtrip from Chaminade’s campus in West Hills.

The twist? Chaminade was eliminated by the same Arroyo Grande team last year in the same round. Arroyo Grande has now twice won a coin flip against Chaminade for the privilege of being the home team.

“We’re a little unlucky at coin flipping,” Chaminade coach Ed Croson said. “In the playoffs, when there’s a distance to travel, the kids feel like it’s a field trip and kind of lose sight a little bit of the game. It’s a distraction because sometimes the kids think of it as a vacation and not a dog-gone business trip.

“You’ve got to be focused this time of year because teams don’t die easy.”

Plus, it can be expensive. Croson said the nice coach busses cost $1,500.

Chaminade endured a challenge at San Luis Obispo, and it took a late rally to come back from three points, as Terrell Newby (252 yards, three touchdowns) scored on a 7-yard run with just over one minute remaining.

“I told the kids they’ve got to keep going, they’ve got to battle back,” Croson said. “The place was packed, standing-room only with people lined up against the sidelines. Our side was packed, too. It was a little too wild.”

Overall, nine schools are still alive in the football playoffs – seven in the Southern Section and two in the City Section – and the big showdown Friday is a Northern Division semifinal between visiting Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure at Ventura High.

For the first time in decades, the Southern Section is conducted football semifinals on Friday only, instead of Friday and Saturday like it’s always been in the past.

The change was made last year at the Southern Section football coaches advisory committee meeting, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said.

“The change is for two reasons – one, high school football is historically a Friday night event, but most importantly when you have one semifinal on Friday and the other on Saturday, the Saturday winner has a one-day disadvantage,” Simmons said. “The vote was unanimous to make the change.”

Desert Christian never won a playoff game until last season, and this year the small school from Lancaster is performing even better. The Knights (10-2) have made it to the Northeast Division semifinals, facing Salesian (10-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lancaster High.

“This is the best Desert Christian team in history. It’s the furthest we’ve ever gone,” Desert Christian coach Israel Ifeanychukwu said. “We’re very happy with the direction we’re headed.”

Desert Christian is the epitome of a High Desert program, relying on smash-football and hard-nosed defense, as the Knights did not attempt a pass in the win over Bishop. Chance Guspeth and Kiel Alcarez have both rushed for more than 1,100 yards this season.
Salesian (10-2) is the total opposite. The Mustangs average 45 points and 448 yards total offense, and Jihad Vercher has passed for nearly 3,000 yards.

What a difference at Granada Hills since moving from City Section Div. I to Div. II this season. The Highlanders had not won a playoff game since 2003, but they’ve made it to the Div. II semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Franklin.

A generation ago, Granada Hills had John Elway and was an annual power. The program has not been the same since longtime coach Darryl Stroh left, but that does not mean Granada Hills was going to go away forever.

“We want to put Granada Hills football on the map again,” quarterback Josh Szin said. “For us seniors, that’s been the goal for four years, and it’s finally coming true. It’s all coming together.”

Szin has completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,578 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he has scored three touchdowns. Nick Boutros, a former backup quarterback, switched to receiver this season, and he has caught 37 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns – a key development, Szin said.

“Nick has really come on strong, plus we have a great sophomore tight end, Bryson Bowman,” Szin said.

Bowman has 27 receptions for 412 yards and seven touchdowns. Granada Hills also features running back Brian Sanchez (1,485 yards, 15 touchdowns), but defense could be the key at high-scoring Marshall, the No. 2 seed. Victor Rabago, a returning All-City linebacker, has 86 tackles, 76 unassisted.

“We’re working on all 12 cylinders. We’re playing as a team,” Granada Hills coach Billy Parra said.

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